After 11.5 hours of deliberations over the span of two days, a Boston jury has found 21-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty on all 30 federal counts relating to the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013 that left three people dead and 264 wounded. A fourth man, an MIT security officer, also died during a six-day manhunt for the suspects. The jury now have the task of determining if Tsarnev should receive the death penalty.
Tsarnaev did not show any emotion as all the guilty verdicts were read, and the courtroom remained silent. The charges against him included the deaths of Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu and 8-year-old Martin Richard, deadly use of a weapon of mass destruction, and conspiracy.
“Obviously we are grateful for the outcome today,” bombing survivor Karen Brassard stated. “It’s not a happy occasion, but it’s something that we can put one more step behind us.”
“I am thankful that this phase of the trial has come to an end and am hopeful for a swift sentencing process,” Boston Mayor Martin Walsh remarked. “I hope today’s verdict provides a small amount of closure for the survivors, families, and all impacted by the violent and tragic events.”
Tsarnaev’s attorneys presented him as someone who was heavily influenced by his older brother Tamerlan in planting the homemade pressure-cooker bombs at the marathon. Defense attorney Judith Clarke stated in the closing arguments that it was 26-year-old Tamerlan who made the bombs and that the attack would not have happened if his older brother was not there. Tamerlan died a few days after the bombing when the police shot him and his brother ran over him during their attempted getaway.
The trial will now move into the penalty phase. Judge George O’Toole announced that the sentencing hearing will begin early next week. The jury will have to determine if Tsarnaev will be executed or serve life in prison without parole.
